With Serena and Venus still playing, how is Elena Dementieva the highest seed left in the final eight of this year’s ladies’ singles draw at Wimbledon?
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Joshuasays
Wimbledon seeding is a bit odd this year. For one thing, I’m not sure why the All England Club uses an actual formula to seed the men but then uses the straight WTA rankings for the women, adjusting them only if they want to. Men and women both play very little grass court tennis — few players show up at more than two grass courts a year — so why would the seeding formula (which doubles each players grass court scores over the last year, and triples the best of these showings) not work for the women?
And yes, I think it’s clear that adjustments were necessary this year — while I can understand putting Ivanovic as number one seed, Jankovic has never made it to the quarter finals and yet ends up as #2 seed? Despite having only a six point advantage over Sharapova (a former champ) in the rankings at the time the draw was made? Kuznetsova and Dementieva likewise were overseeded.
And the argument made above that Dementieva made it to the semis is proof that she deserved her seeding — I’m not sure I buy that. For one thing, the real reason she made it to the semis was Sharapova’s early crash and burn. For another, seedings at Wimbledon can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. In my opinion, it was insane for Nadal to be the #2 seed in 2006. (I’m not sure if the formula was in use then too or not, but still!) This was ahead of a two-time runner up in Roddick and David Nalbandian, who at the time was playing some of his best tennis and had been a finalist here once. But he made it to the final, so everyone sees that as justified. But, had he been seeded 4th (which is where i think he probably belonged) he’d have played Federer in the semis and NOT made it to the final. So a big part of why he managed to make it to his first Wimbledon final was that he was seeded far above his deserved place.
If anything, the way things panned out proves that Serena (who has had an excellent year everywhere but the French) and Venus (whose not been as good but has an obviously incredible record at this event) were seeded much, much to low.
Elena played consistently through the year and hence her ranking. Venus and Serena is not as consistent and that reflects in the rankings too. At the end of the day, the best player wins.
Yes, Venus and Serena do play better than Dementieva on grass but after all, Elena did make it to the semis which proves that she deserved her high seed.
yeah the seeds are just as wacky as making venus play on court 2 and jankovic play on court 18 for round of 16!!! bottom line they needed to be seeded higher than the russian….especially venus…seems like wimby pays a lot of attention to the mens side rather than the womens side….
It’s insane, is what it is. If on the men’s side, Baghdatis could be bumped up to a top ten seed, you’d think that for sure the defending women’s champ could get a bump. If they’re going to go straight seed, then fine. But if you have a system where you deviate from that by adjusting by a player’s grass court performance, Venus and Serena should both be seeded higher than Dementieva.
I don’t think ANYone who agree but the truth is that consistency is lacking in women’s tennis. I really think the standard a few years back 1998-2005 was better.
Joshua says
Wimbledon seeding is a bit odd this year. For one thing, I’m not sure why the All England Club uses an actual formula to seed the men but then uses the straight WTA rankings for the women, adjusting them only if they want to. Men and women both play very little grass court tennis — few players show up at more than two grass courts a year — so why would the seeding formula (which doubles each players grass court scores over the last year, and triples the best of these showings) not work for the women?
And yes, I think it’s clear that adjustments were necessary this year — while I can understand putting Ivanovic as number one seed, Jankovic has never made it to the quarter finals and yet ends up as #2 seed? Despite having only a six point advantage over Sharapova (a former champ) in the rankings at the time the draw was made? Kuznetsova and Dementieva likewise were overseeded.
And the argument made above that Dementieva made it to the semis is proof that she deserved her seeding — I’m not sure I buy that. For one thing, the real reason she made it to the semis was Sharapova’s early crash and burn. For another, seedings at Wimbledon can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. In my opinion, it was insane for Nadal to be the #2 seed in 2006. (I’m not sure if the formula was in use then too or not, but still!) This was ahead of a two-time runner up in Roddick and David Nalbandian, who at the time was playing some of his best tennis and had been a finalist here once. But he made it to the final, so everyone sees that as justified. But, had he been seeded 4th (which is where i think he probably belonged) he’d have played Federer in the semis and NOT made it to the final. So a big part of why he managed to make it to his first Wimbledon final was that he was seeded far above his deserved place.
If anything, the way things panned out proves that Serena (who has had an excellent year everywhere but the French) and Venus (whose not been as good but has an obviously incredible record at this event) were seeded much, much to low.
neo says
Elena played consistently through the year and hence her ranking. Venus and Serena is not as consistent and that reflects in the rankings too. At the end of the day, the best player wins.
Faye says
Yes, Venus and Serena do play better than Dementieva on grass but after all, Elena did make it to the semis which proves that she deserved her high seed.
Jovany says
yeah the seeds are just as wacky as making venus play on court 2 and jankovic play on court 18 for round of 16!!! bottom line they needed to be seeded higher than the russian….especially venus…seems like wimby pays a lot of attention to the mens side rather than the womens side….
gex says
It’s insane, is what it is. If on the men’s side, Baghdatis could be bumped up to a top ten seed, you’d think that for sure the defending women’s champ could get a bump. If they’re going to go straight seed, then fine. But if you have a system where you deviate from that by adjusting by a player’s grass court performance, Venus and Serena should both be seeded higher than Dementieva.
anonymous says
I don’t think ANYone who agree but the truth is that consistency is lacking in women’s tennis. I really think the standard a few years back 1998-2005 was better.
John says
That’s crazy, seems like she’s come out of nowhere to be top 5 all of a sudden. Hope Venus smashes her.
Anna says
Haha! For max shock effect i hope the wildcard goes and wins it!!
Jon says
You’d think the seedings would be tampered with in light of Williamses winning 6 of the last 8 Wimbledons. But whatev.
Nick McCarvel says
Ha ha, eteglan – I like your rather blunt response.
This has been one of the craziest women’s slams in a long time. It would be great to see a (high-quality) all-Williams Wimbledon final!
eteglan says
It’s simple – Dementieva is ranked no 5 in WTA tour rankings, Serena and Venus are just behind her.